Maria Antonia's Passion

Son pocos los detalles que se conservan sobre la infancia de María Antonia Paris, nos dice Juan Esquerda Bifet. Su padre Francisco Paris, agricultor económicamente acomodado, había muerto tres meses antes de nacer ella. Su madre, Teresa Riera, procuró la educación de sus dos hijas en un ambiente familiar. Antonia hizo su primera comunión a los 9 años.

En sus escritos, Antonia se refiere con cierta frecuencia a su infancia y juventud, sin detallar demasiado. Habla de su devoción por la pasión de Jesús y de su amor y reverencia por las cosas santas y concretamente por los sacerdotes. No hay que olvidar que esa época y en Cataluña, a pesar de las dificultades políticas y sociales, tiene lugar un gran florecimiento de santos y fundadores.

!Que lindo poder mirar nuestra vida y encontrar la presencia de Dios! Antonia, con su vida, nos invita a descubrir la presencia de Dios actuante en nuestra historia, en nuestro ser. Por que no dedicarle tiempo a mirarla, a explorarla... De seguro descubriremos muchas cosas bonitas. Buena suerte. 
 

There are few details that can be found on Maria Antonia Paris’ infancy, explains Juan Esquerda Bifet. Her father Francisco Paris, a well off farmer, had died three months prior to her birth. Her mother, Teresa Riera, tried to educate her daughters in a family atmosphere. Antonia made her first communion at age 9. 

In her writings, Antonia makes frequent references to her childhood and youth.  She speaks of her devotion to the passion of Jesus and her love and reverence to Holy things, and particularly to priests.  We must not forget that that era and in Catalonia, despite the political and social difficulties, takes place a great flowering of Saints and founders.

 

A Psalm For Women by Carol Gura (Catholic Women's Devotional Bible NRSV)

Divine Wisdom, out of love and compassion

You created me

and called me "woman"

bone of bones and flesh of flesh

companion and partner with man.

You created me in your

own image to be fruitful

and to fill the earth with life,

leading ordering and empowering

the created universe,

together with the holy women and men,

created and infused with your spirit of love.

You have drawn me into a web

of woven threads with the ancient ones

Eve and Esther

Ruth and Naomi

Sara and Rebecca.

You have drawn me into a sisterhood

of pieces and patterns

designed by holy women

Mary and Elizabeth

Martha of Bethany and Mary of Magdala

Priscilla and Lydia.

You have drawn me into a kinship

with the wild, daring, holy women

whose lives flavor my own

Therese of Lisieux and Catherine of Siena

Clare of Assisi and Teresa of Avila

Margaret of Hungary and Briget of Kildare.

You have drawn me into a union

with the wise women

of my own time and culture

Dorothy Day and Thea Bowman

Mother Teresa and Edith Stein

Simone Weil and

Catherine de Hueck Doherty.

In their company I will spring up, blossom and grow

into the woman of wisdom

You have molded and formed

from the beginning time.